They know the hazards and difficulties of designing an outboard to work well in a marine environment. Since sales are less, the price of an outboard is increased significantly. And in saltwater, the once-ubiquitous 23-foot center console pushed by a pair of 150s is now far more likely t… So let’s start off by dividing engines and power systems into their most basic forms: outboards and inboards. In spite of that multiple outboard motors, sometimes as many as 9, on an expensive boat has become a fashion statement. Inboard motors generally last longer than their outboard counterparts. So, the inboard option means less maintenance (nearly … All those parts are expensive because the materials and the technology used in building them are expensive. Why are boats cheaper in Europe? More sales mean it would get cheaper to build each motor, and they could live with a lower profit margin on each motor, which would bring the price down. Expensive compared to what? 10 Tips For Solo Sailing, When Boat Launches Go Horribly Wrong – A Tale Of Tragedy, Are Ranger Boats Worth The Money? My name is Mahidhar. And the marine engines’ duty cycle is really heavy-duty compared to cars. Very few people buy outboard motors, which means that the demand is relatively low than other engine types. So, the sales are less for an outboard motor. The total price was 73,000 dollars. Outboard motor technology has significantly increased in recent years. There were some early reports of corrosion issues, so we hesitate to bump one of these other proven contenders to get the Seven Marine on the list. The version I've got is with the maps for the whole Europe, and I used it once travelling by bus from Poland to UK - it was great, the reality view worked on every single major motorway crossing, and the battery lived for so long! The result -- outboard motors that run cleaner, greener and with less required maintenance. a motorboat having an outboard motor and which has no cabin is often known as speedboats. The higher income side of society primarily owns boats. While it’s difficult to miss the number of manufacturers now offering outboards with white finishes, it’s equally difficult to ignore the obvious fact that boats, and outboards, are getting bigger. Myanmar – The Only Source for Marine Decking. Boat dealers generally don’t sell numerous boats and motors. Boat owners are assumed to be economically gratified by default, so a few economics’ concepts of “pricing” come into action here But, why do outboard motors cost so much?. Even though both the Honda outboard and the Yamaha outboards are four-stroke engines, they are available in different horse powers. To stay in business, they need to make more profit, so prices are more. Boat motor parts are expensive because they need to withstand the marine environment, need to withstand corrosion well, need to be able to run continually at max RPMs for longer periods, and need to use metals that will resist electrolysis due to metals alkaloids or calcium in the water; all these things increase the outboard motor price. Posted by TheDrunkenTigah on 4/24/19 at 1:13 pm to blueboy My guess is emission requirements are pushing more and more of these little motors to 4 strokes, which takes R&D, which takes money. And he says, it is smoother and more fuel efficient and quieter than any of the four-stroke outboards. Why are outboard motors so expensive? It is true that savings in purchase price and weight don’t really kick in with Direct … Considering a vast difference in the output, quality, etc. Ranger…, https://www.doityourself.com/stry/why-an-ouboard-boat-motor-is-more-expensive, https://www.reddit.com/r/engineering/comments/6ovjic/why_are_electric_motors_more_expensive_than/, https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3e0xc8/eli5_why_are_boat_motors_so_outrageously/, https://www.motorbiscuit.com/evinrude-iconic-outboard-boat-motor-out-of-business/, https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/why-are-boat-engines-soooo-expensive.94495/, https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/outdoor/why-are-outboard-motors-so-and-expensive/51012266/, https://www.goldeagle.com/tips-tools/difference-marine-motors-car-motors/. Does Marine Grade Plywood Warp and Rot? Seriously for the life of me I cant figure out why a new outboard is so freaking expensive! When Yamaha outboards were being designed incorporating features only used / patented by OMC, Yamaha was taken to court by OMC and lost their case. All those parts are expensive because the materials and the technology used in building them are expensive. Those are the main reasons why boat motors/engines (outboards) are expensive. This product is considered a luxury product, which further increases the cost. Modern motors 6-10 times more powerful when compared to the ones built in the1960s. More R&D implies more money. Outboard motors are less common and so fewer of these will be sold. The reason behind this is the outboards last long if they are maintained well. Profit increases either due to an increased number of outboard sales; otherwise, the manufacturers need to increase the outboards price. We may receive a commission on qualifying purchases. This is the only teak quality that is suitable for marine applications – one more reason why it is so expensive. Inboard engines tend to be more expensive up-front, and their maintenance can also be difficult and costly, but they tend to be more fuel-efficient. Used boat pricing is lower than new boat pricing but it also depends on the models and the comfort of the boat. If everyone starts using boats as cars, then the boat’s and outboard’s price will reduce significantly. As mentioned earlier, they are equipped with high-quality parts that are not only designed to resist constant running at max RPMs but made with materials meant to resist corrosion well. A common question asked by new sailboat owners and sailing enthusiasts.Sailing is a sport and can also provide a great…, Seasickness resembles motion sickness occurring while on a boat. While he was visiting with a salesman I was looking around at boat prices. For this reason they will always be more expensive. It’s the research & development that goes into the form. What this means is higher money for heavy-duty components and a constant high power supply. The boat motor (outboard) assembly is not as automated as the automotive industry (car or truck or other), so some more man-hours are needed than machinery. link to Why are boats cheaper in Europe? Car motors are mass produced in their thousands and every one of them will be sold. Thread starter #12. Costs of Owning a Boat Seasickness varies based on the sailing…, A catamaran features two equal-sized parallel hulls. Outboard engines are the inverse – located on the outside of the boat, they are easier to access and repair, but they tend to be not as fuel-efficient as inboard engines. Did you know? The engine’s innards are easier to access and therefore repairs are quicker and subsequently cheaper. Since the outboard motor manufacturers target this income group, it’s natural for these products to be expensive. So, the boat motor (outboard) parts are expensive in general, which will increase the overall price of an outboard. Low Demand And Supply; High Quality; Higher Income Target Market; Longer Life; Research And Development; Outboard Monopoly; Incredible Performance; Low Demand And Supply. A simple newbie guide. Now that there’s a massive difference in an outboard motor’s prices and an ordinary engine, many people might consider opting for a compatible substitute. Outboards, on the other hand, last about 750 hours on average. Adding to the final price of the product ensures that the research and development process continues. They operate at wide-open throttle much more than auto engines. An outboard motor is a product whose price is governed by several factors. Can a sailboat tip over? Regular maintenance, substantial repair costs, and finally replacing it with a new one will hurt your pocket more severely. Why are outboard motors so expensive? One downside to an outboard engine is that they are loud and create larger wakes, which can be problematic if you use your boat for watersports like skiing. (We Find Out), This Is Why You Should Cover A Pontoon Boat. All those factors combined will increase the boat motors’ price drastically. They run in some of the worst conditions you can imagine, cramped hull with little room to maintain them, raw water cooling (ok if fresh, hell if salt), and usually wide open as they have no "gears" that allow you to shift up. The people boat manufacturers target can afford more expensive products, and high prices don’t bother them like they might a lower-income person. The bottom line about why outboard motors cost so much is that the manufacture is a precise process and the product is not only complex, but also must be completely waterproof, for obvious reasons. Can a Sailboat Tip Over? Research and Development here is to find the parts that can withstand the marine environment (the environment they operate in is pretty much 100% humidity 100% of the time, not good), withstand corrosion well, withstand constant spinning at max RPMs for longer periods. But, owning a good (big) motor (outboard) is stopping you from doing that due to its price and thinking why boat motors are so expensive? Plus, there aren’t any risers and manifolds in an outboard engine, which is a very costly … Finding all the necessary parts and materials, choosing a good color, improving the motor design, like decreasing the weight to get good performance out of it, and so on, all of that goes into research and development, which requires time and a lot of money. Collection from Doncaster Cash on collection please. Targeting higher-income people and selling the products for huge profits is common when it comes to luxury products. Talking to a co worker that just repowered with a 200 yamahammer last month and spent $17k by the time he bought controls, installation, etc. Theres a decent amount of cars on the market now that you can get for less than that! And they don’t sell numerous motors all the time, so to stay in business, they need to make a profit, so the price of an outboard (boat motor) is high. To date, Myanmar is the source for marine quality teak because the forests of Myanmar have the perfect soil and environment for growing teak. The level of uneasiness can vary based on the vessel. More people buy cars than boat motors, which means the car’s motor price can be moved down as more specialized tools can be built (removing more human-hours in work). If sold with other motors as standard, it would be challenging for the outboard motor manufacturers to claim their monopoly. And ultimately, that’s why we’re drawn to the sea and the boating lifestyle. Outboards run on gas whereas inboards are mostly diesel-powered. These products come at a premium price instead of a budget price. What makes these outboards so ridiculously expensive?? That being said, we will see all other reasons why boat motors/engines (outboards) are expensive in a detailed way. Well the biggest reason is the supply and demand. The 1350 turbo motor by mercury was in R&D for 7+ years before released. If everybody had a boat like they do cars, there would be more outboard sales. Is it Waterproof Plywood. In addition to that, the overall internal wires and other materials used to make up the entire product must deliver high quality. The engine can bear decent loads and offer excellent results. These motors must be tough enough to withstand damage from moisture, water, and a salty, harsh ocean environment. We settled at a price of 64,000 bucks. You can squeeze roughly 1,500 hours out of an inboard before necessary maintenance. A well-maintained boat motor (outboard) can easily last for decades. Yes, buying an expensive motor is worth every penny. Boating Guide is supported by donations and by ads, and affiliate links we provide in our reviews. Very few people buy outboard motors, which means that the demand is relatively low than other engine types. The Seven Marine 627 is world’s largest outboard and is also the world’s most expensive outboard (prices vary depending on options and paint jobs but breaking the 100K mark isn’t uncommon). You will notice that the return on investment of an outboard motor is acceptable. Can a boat radar hurt you? Staying inactive for a long time reduces their lives, but these motors still work well when maintained. If the demand were high, then the final price of each item would automatically fall. May 18, 2009 #11. Most outboard motors manufacturers include colossal research and development costs in their products. The fiscally prudent also recognize that the maintenance on an outboard is less expensive. Myanmar. This royalty paid to … While this might appear to be a deterrent, most boaters do not plan on keeping their vessels forever, so this fact translates into a higher resale value later on. Research and development are entirely expected costs, which almost every manufacturer includes in their final price irrespective of the industry. More sales mean it would get cheaper to build each motor, and they could live with a lower profit margin on each motor, which would bring the price down. Though a catamaran is primarily used as a…, Kayaking can be leisurely paddling through flat and still waters with great weather conditions and an easy route. May 18, 2009. A friend and I went to look at boats yesterday. I too never understood why boat engines are so expensive, especially used. Since they’re spending a lot of time and money in this domain, they expect something in return from the customers. However, kayaking can also be paddling through strong winds, strong…, I have never shared this story publically of the boat launch tragedy until now. If you are a boat owner or ever intend to be,…, Many people consider boats to be a luxury item, and some of the costs involved when buying a boat tend to support that paradigm. so opt for the best models. So you must be thinking up till now that why are boats so expensive but you are wont to believe that 20 grand is nothing for a good boat. Cost: A cost-per-horsepower comparison is impossible because OEM engine pricing is such a closely held secret, but we can say that outboards are less expensive than diesels and pods and probably close to that of stern drives and inboards. The one-time purchasing cost for outboard motors is low. I know the technology is a little different but for the most part these motors are very similar in many ways. re: Why are portable outboards so expensive? The same is the case with an outboard motor. May 18, 2009 #11. its just one heck of a "luxury" tax ! Outboard motor technology has significantly increased in recent years. The price of the boat depends on so many factors; one among them is the place you are buying it. All of this needs significant work in R&D (more money), resulting in a pricey product. So, the inability to mass-produce outboards and making back your money on fewer produced units results in more priciness (of outboards). Let’s see why. It takes very little HP to move a car down the road at 70 mph, but a boat requires more HP (power). Outboard motors quickly make it to this list. A sports car’s price is higher, since the owners are assumed to be well-off by default, and their demand is somewhat low compared to budget family cars. Yamaha 115V4 Outboard sold, used . Can One Person Sail A Catamaran? The main reason behind the boat motor’s (outboard) priciness is low sales; otherwise, if everyone buys a boat like cars, there would be more outboard sales. Consider the example of a sports car and an ordinary family car. But it doesn’t stop there! All this extra time will be reduced drastically if the automotive industry advances and starts making the outboard auto. Boating Valley is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can, of course, come across gas inboards, but for safety reasons, diesel ones are recommended. Today multiple outboard motors is a common sight at the docks. Simple guide. Typically, Yamaha tends to offer engines with slightly more horsepower than Honda’s. The volume of outboard aluminum alloy used by manufactures is far greater THAN the cost of a custom one time run alloy at the foundry which amounts to a considerable discount in production cost. Outboard motors are more common in boating because they are slightly less expensive, allow more flexibility, more seating capacity, and are easier to maintain. However, it does incur maintenance and replacement cost. The boat engine (outboard) is expensive because they need to withstand the marine environment well, so all the parts used in making one are expensive stuff. So, he’s not paying $4,000 a year to maintain his two-stroke outboard. Any product’s cost tends to fall or rise on the graph based on the correlation of its demand and supply. I am a fan of boating, and this site is about boating, tips, maintenance, and safety. Oostanaula #113 F&AM. It further adds up to the final price of the product. Compare cost per knot and outboards have the edge. replacing an outboard motor with an ordinary motor is a big mistake. Many manufacturers don’t even make the least expected income out of the outboard motors. Combine these facts with the target buyer being a slightly higher income group than the average person, and it’s a recipe for a more expensive product. All of this requires more human workers and hours in making many outboards, which will increase the outboard’s making price. Of course, it’s more expensive to buy (from around £500 to £600 for a new 2.3hp four-stroke) but other than a lower purchase price and a simpler maintenance programme, the older style two-strokes now offer no practical benefits over these modern engines. Boat motors (outboards) require more power to perform the task. The low demand automatically increases the prices of these outboard motors drastically. Can a boat radar hurt you? I'm really used to it now, and I enjoy driving a car more having it turned on in most of the cases. This is another reason why boat engines (outboards) are expensive (Since the outboard motor assembly is not automated requires more man-hours and workers). Keeping a boat moving requires a lot of uninterrupted power, which a car engine isn’t adapted to supply. No matter how much the production is, they must maintain all the plant and machinery and labor. That’s one perspective behind the priciness of a boat motor (outboard). With a lower sell rate than engines going in cars, but a more complex assembly, the cost of these engines is much higher, relative to similar land based engines of comparable horse power. So, those parts need to be made out of materials that can withstand corrosion (rust), need fire-preventing versions of all the electrical parts (since the slightest spark in a boat can mean an explosion), and need to make out of materials that withstand constant running at max RPMs for longer periods, etc. Inboard motors are way more costly in comparison with outboard motors. The output delivered by an outboard motor is quite good. The quality of the boat motors is impressive. (More) Working hours involved in building a single motor will also drastically increase the time to make a single motor, increasing the money simultaneously. Longer life means people would rarely buy another motor anytime soon. The boat motors have to pass many quality assurance tests to ensure that they’re safe for use in dangerous conditions. One such example is Apple Inc. Also, the technology used in these motors is different, and it would be very kind if the buyers would happily spend a little more to aid the research and development process. So, the boat motor (outboard) is almost all aluminum, and the hardware is stainless steel, which are expensive materials. An inboard motor can give you 1500 hours, while an outboard motor will give you 750-900 hours. Greatflake Senior Member. Simple guide. Comparing the outboard with the car engine gives some sense of why outboards require more power.